Running Line: The Underground Lifeline of Prison Life

In my opinion and experience, the concept of running line was founded by prisoners as a form of communication, the assistance of one another, and trading with one another. But it also does build community inside a prison.

Let me tell you about my first encounter, then a few methods you must learn to be able to run line. When I first encountered the concept of running line, it was because I needed something and had no way of getting what I needed. At the time, most security officers wouldn’t help you get a book from someone or anything at all. So I learned from other prisoners that running line was a necessity if you were to survive in prison.

One of my own people bought a line for me and sent it to me, so I had a way of communicating or trading. That was how I learned about the concept of running line, because I had no idea what that was. After all, this was my first time in prison, and it was the beginning of my sentence, so I was naive about pretty much everything. Later, I began to learn: not only do you have to run line, but you have to learn how to run line. It is a skill you must learn no matter where you go.

Why Running Line Matters

If you don’t go to commissary and your friend has a few ramen noodles plus some soap, how are you going to get the items if you don’t know how to run line or don’t have a line? If your cousin arrives and lives on the first floor and you live on the second floor, and you want to catch up with him and communicate privately, you must have a line. Or if your friend has made some food for you, how will you get the food? You will need to run line for it. Simple.

If you don’t know how to run line, you will struggle. Some people will laugh at you, while others will try and teach you. This concept of running line is a useful necessity.

It is a form of transportation. If you don’t have a line, you don’t have transportation. You need to have a line. You need to trade with others. It keeps the prison economy alive. We all run line, trade, send each other food, books, magazines. If you don’t go to commissary and you draw or have a certain skill set or trade, then you will have to run line to trade with other prisoners so you can make some type of revenue to live off of your basic needs while you are in prison.

Methods of Running Line

So it all depends on your location. In solitary confinement, you must know how to throw your line out as far as you can if you are trying to run line with someone at a distance.

A method we use is called the helicopter. You basically slide your weight in a circular motion, building intensity, then you throw it. At the moment it has built up intensity, this will cause your weight to slide at a long distance. But I warn you—it takes practice. You are definitely not going to get it the first try.

Another method doesn’t have a name. There are two floors in the solitary confinement where I am housed. So if you are trying to run line with someone, then you have to basically use your weight to jump over the run so you can connect with someone on the first floor.

Three Methods I Learned

There are three methods I learned. The easiest one I know of is using a pole.

All you do is get three sheets of magazine: roll up two pages tightly, and the third you place under the two sheets that are rolled tightly. Begin to roll the third sheet along with the two sheets so that it builds a strong, stiff pole. You have to do this twice, then connect both together to make a pole of good length. Once you make the pole, tie it to your line and throw it out of the window of your cell door. This will go over the rail easily.

Next is the most difficult, because you have to basically yank your line and pull to create a motion that will propel your weight to jump over the rail. What you do is push your weight out of the top of your cell door, let your weight drop in front of your door, then you drop some slack of your line so that you can grab your line from under the bottom of your door. Once you have your line inside along with your weight, step on your weight and slide your foot back about two steps. Then you yank and pull your line. This will cause a motion that makes your weight slide out and jump over the rail so you can reach the first floor. Again, this method takes much practice. It is very difficult.

The last is a ramp. Honestly, I have only seen this method, so I can’t tell much detail on how to make a ramp. All I know is I seen a guy slide a ramp from under his door—which was a flat cardboard—then he pulled a string, and the cardboard seemed to transform into a ramp, which he used to help his weight slide over the rail.

Other Critical Skills: Knots and Awareness

Another important thing I mentioned is knowing how to run line and being able to tie simple knots. The knowledge of tying knots is very important.

Let’s say you don’t know how to tie knots. Then the food your friend was going to send will fall off your line. The question is: how will you be able to get the food now if it fell off your line? You are in solitary confinement. You can’t come out of your cell, and you will be left staring at a bag of food, wishing you knew how to tie knots.

I was taught early on about the knots. There are three basic slip knots that are secure, won’t come undone, and slip off easily when you are trying to untie the knot so you can get your food off the line—hence the name slip knot.

You also must be aware of your surroundings. If you are running line and the security officer catches you, the food plus your line will be confiscated.

So being aware—paying attention to what’s going on around you—is very important. For example, if you hear a door pop, let go of the line, wait, then run line after the security passes by so you can pick up your food. If you hear keys or a radio—same thing.

It is basically like driving: if you pass a red light and a police officer sees you running it, what will happen? Exactly—you will more likely get pulled over and get a ticket. It is the same in prison, except you’re running line for items: food, books, magazines, hygiene products, plus so much more.